Dr. Fuqing Zhang to participate in major hurricane field study to tackle long-standing mystery

NCAR & UCAR NewsJuly 20, 2010

BOULDER—Scientists are launching a major field project next month in the
tropical Atlantic Ocean to solve a central mystery of hurricanes: Why
do certain clusters of tropical thunderstorms grow into the often-deadly
storms while many others dissipate? The results should eventually help
forecasters provide more advance warning to those in harm’s way.

PREDICT, the Pre-Depression Investigation of Cloud Systems in the
Tropics, will run from August 15 to September 30, the height of
hurricane season. The project is funded primarily by the National
Science Foundation (NSF), NCAR’s sponsor.